gnappi
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,537
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Post by gnappi on Apr 10, 2023 16:43:01 GMT -5
I know it's a PITA but I think your plan for modding your own from 500 S&W is a good one. You'd be immune to the brass availability issue in the future.
I'm in a similar dilemma (although easier to solve) needing .480 brass,so I'm on the wait list for 475 Linebaugh and I have a cutting jig ($30) and a mini cutoff saw from harbor freight @ $39 to roll my own 480. When (or should I say IF) .480 becomes available, I'll back order 1000.
So you know you're not alone, two sales of .480 brass went for $167+15 S&H and $180 +$15 S&H on GB for 100 cases.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Apr 10, 2023 16:54:10 GMT -5
I’ve known Hunter since he was a teenager, and I became friends with his Dad from shooting comps. Both are class acts, Carroll (dad) was with Sierra for many many years and Hunter worked there before being hired at Starline. The two companies are side by side In Sedalia, Mo., Hunter has supplied me with honest feedback on products and proposed manufacturing dates before, my search was 414SM brass. I was lucky in Carroll being a 41 fan and he had a hundred cases from his personal supply to tide me over until production began. As JeffH said, call and be respectful ask like you need a favor from a friend, because that’s exactly what is needed.
Trapr
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Post by rjm52 on Apr 10, 2023 17:36:13 GMT -5
My FA came with both .500WY Express and .500 JRH cylinders...kinda a double wammy... The package came with 125 WY Express cases and I just bit the bullet, so to speak, and bought 100 JRH cases from BB. They will last me till I sell the gun...or pass on, whichever comes first...
Dixie paved the way with having Starline make .41 Special brass. He had to buy I believe 55k pieces and pay for the headstamp. More than likely BB had to do the same. Hopefully one day .500 JRH and maybe even WY Express will be like the .41 Special and become a regular production item...
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Post by 500fksjr on Apr 10, 2023 19:03:00 GMT -5
In today's economy it takes planning and back up plans to keep up with the components/ammo needs as well as ingenuity/skill sets to make or forge whats needed to keep buying and shooting...Its like a second job to keep up if your shooting on a regular bases..
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Post by jaydubinwi on Apr 10, 2023 23:50:32 GMT -5
A few years ago, I called Jack and asked to buy some brass. He told me that I could have the last 50 1X cases that he had available. After this I emailed starline and they said they had no plans to run any. Tim Sundles must have a deal with them to retain a "monopoly" on 500 JRH brass. I won't pay his prices so bought some 500 S&W that I still need to cut down. If there ever was a group buy, I'd take 1000
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Post by CraigC on Apr 11, 2023 2:20:31 GMT -5
A few years ago, I called Jack and asked to buy some brass. He told me that I could have the last 50 1X cases that he had available. After this I emailed starline and they said they had no plans to run any. Tim Sundles must have a deal with them to retain a "monopoly" on 500 JRH brass. I won't pay his prices so bought some 500 S&W that I still need to cut down. If there ever was a group buy, I'd take 1000 No, he's just the only one who ordered enough to get them made. People seem to think that Sundles is ripping them off. I'd love to hear the evidence to support it.
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Post by Encore64 on Apr 11, 2023 2:42:16 GMT -5
In the end, it's hard to keep a good handloader down.
401 PowerMag, 500 JRH, etc can be made from other brass.
It's sorta what the forum members excel at. It's makes the whole sport that much more fun.
Maybe we should do a thread on forming 500 JRH Brass? Chop Saws, Dremel Drill Press, the whole process.
Makes a whole lot more sense to help ourselves and others than sweat the small stuff!!!
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Apr 11, 2023 6:10:54 GMT -5
....It's makes the whole sport that much more fun....
That's a good point. We get ourselves into things different, obsolete, "rare" and find ways to make it work. Scrounging knowledge, gleaning old texts, creating work-arounds is a skill we develop to do more (or differently) than the masses buying factory-made ammo for the most popular stuff. There is a cost, maybe more of an investment, but it's a rewarding productive and healthy use of our time and brain cells. There's that extra challenge of overcoming what others consider a roadblock.
I would stick with the 223 if I were to be totally practical about it, but I LIKE the 222 so much more. Brass was once literally FREE for the 223, but I've always had to find and pay for 222 brass. Any more, that's the case with some previously very common stuff, like the 35 Remington, 44 Special, 30-40, etc. Finding even the slightly less than wildly popular stuff is a challenge today - IF you're not willing to simply solve the problem with cash.
Yes, I LOVE having piles a brand new brass too, but I'm not willing to pay the ransom either. I have to spread what I've got available out - make it last. I'm doing that with my brass too these days. I no longer look at it as being somewhat expendable and treat it with a bit more care.
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COR
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,527
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Post by COR on Apr 11, 2023 9:51:25 GMT -5
Callshot proved it could be done, just takes willpower … but unfortunately, the 500 JRH is no Callshot 44 Special. Doesn’t have the lobbyists, STAR POWER OR the Celebrity namesake…
It takes more than a petition, it takes MONEY. (And MAGICAL STARPOWER)
Ask Callshot (Steve) how many times he counted to 500 and bagged and tagged them too… it CAN be done
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Post by jaydubinwi on Apr 11, 2023 11:43:10 GMT -5
A few years ago, I called Jack and asked to buy some brass. He told me that I could have the last 50 1X cases that he had available. After this I emailed starline and they said they had no plans to run any. Tim Sundles must have a deal with them to retain a "monopoly" on 500 JRH brass. I won't pay his prices so bought some 500 S&W that I still need to cut down. If there ever was a group buy, I'd take 1000 No, he's just the only one who ordered enough to get them made. People seem to think that Sundles is ripping them off. I'd love to hear the evidence to support it. I never did say Tim's prices were a rip off, just too high. I've shot a few boxes of his ammo, and it's quality stuff. I won't shoot anymore because the price is a bit high. Here's a better example. In the future I'm going to hunt elk in the west. I have a remington 700 300 weatherby. Weatherby's ammo goes for 4 or 5 dollars a round. I can load my own for half that easily. The 500 JRH brass situation is no different in my opinion. YMMV
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,153
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Post by edk on Apr 11, 2023 12:08:15 GMT -5
$1.58 each is actually a fairly common figure for obsolete brass right now. At least 500 S&W can be had to start with.
I load for a wildcat or two that over and above the handwork itself also require obsolete brass as a parent case!
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jb500
.30 Stingray
Looking for 500 jrh info
Posts: 107
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Post by jb500 on Apr 11, 2023 15:04:16 GMT -5
First, I want to thank everyone who responded to my concerns, both those who are pro Buffalo Bore, those who appeared neutral, and those who would like to see lower prices. Being new to handgun hunting this gives me a full perspective. So thanks again, ALL of you. I am waiting to hear back from Starline on the matter.
JB 500
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Post by Encore64 on Apr 11, 2023 16:16:40 GMT -5
I agree, great thread. It's always interesting to read other's opinions.
It also refreshed my memory that I was due to make some more brass for my guns.
I found a place that had Starline 500 S&W Magnum Brass in stock. Ordered 200 that was $157 delivered.
I'll get busy and make 500 JRH. My setup produces about 100 ready to load brass an hour.
This is well under 50% Cost. Plus, I get a kick out of making things myself.
Something to remember is the 500x1.4" existed first. Simply being the 500 S&W trimmed to 1.4". The smaller rim of the 500 JRH is only required in the FA83 Conversion.
The BFR is more accurately chambered for the 500x1.4". But, shoots either rim size equally well...
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jb500
.30 Stingray
Looking for 500 jrh info
Posts: 107
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Post by jb500 on Apr 11, 2023 20:56:47 GMT -5
Encore64, the wheels have been set in motion. I started a thread on how do people form their 500 JRH brass.
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Post by rivercane on Apr 14, 2023 1:47:39 GMT -5
These days, it is unrealistic to approach Starline with a production request for an original round or a neglected cartridge. They don’t depend on that kind of work. If they consent to it, they want it to be worth their while, which necessitates massive interest (usually more than can be drummed up). They make quality brass, of course, but tooling up for niche rounds makes little sense for them when they can’t keep up with demand for the catalog items.
There are companies that do specialize in this type of work, however. Bertram only asked for a 10,000 piece minimum order when we approached them with our .500 Bushwhacker project. Turnaround was prompt (within six months, if I recall correctly). I’m sure they’d be happy to help with the .500 JRH, .401 Powermag, or any number of other special requests. All it’d take would be a handful of interested parties, really.
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